1.2.1 Understand your references


Determine your information needs
	1.1 Define your topic
	1.2 Increase familiarity with your topic
		1.2.1 Understand your references
		1.2.2 Locate your references
		1.2.3 Understand call numbers
	1.3 Map your ideas
	1.4 Types of assignment
	1.5 Amount of information
	1.6 Types of sources
	1.7 Types of publications


	Glossary

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To do the background reading recommended by your lecturer, you need to understand what type of publications have been referenced. They could be books, book chapters, journal articles or Web pages.

Let's look at the readings that have been set:

A book reference

The place of publication (New York) and the publisher (Pearson Prentice Hall) are identified in the reference: Beauchamp, T. L. & Bowie, N. E. (2004). Ethical theory and business. 7th ed. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall.

The parts of the reference that help you understand this is a book are the place of publication and publisher.

A book chapter reference

The chapter authors (Fisher & Lovell), chapter title (Ethical theories and how to use them), book editor (Queensland University of Technology) and book title (Business law and ethics) are identified in the reference: Fisher, C. & Lovell, A. (2004). Ethical theories and how to use them. In Queensland University of Technology (Ed.), Business law and ethics (pp. 119-156). Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education Australia. The word In is circled.

The part of the reference that helps you understand this is a book chapter is the word In.
You know this is a chapter in a book because both the place of publication and publisher are recorded.

A journal reference

The journal title (Journal of Business Ethics), volume (33), issue (2) and page numbering (115-144) are identified in the reference: Hing, N. (2001). Changing the odds: A study of corporate principles and practices in addressing problem gambling. Journal of Business Ethics, 33(2), 115-144.

You can tell this is a journal article because the volume, the issue and page numbering are recorded.
Notice the place of publication and publisher are NOT recorded.

A Web page reference

The access date (Retrieved January 29, 2008) and URL or Uniform Resource Locator (http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/gambling/docs/finalreport) are identified in the reference: Productivity Commission. (1999). Australia's Gambling Industries (Report No 10). Retrieved January 29, 2008, from http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/gambling/docs/finalreport.

You can tell this is a Web page because the reference contains a URL and access date.

References are also discussed in 4.4 Citations and references.

Activity

You have now identified the references you have been given. How will you locate them effectively?

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